Preserving heritage through knowledge
Rural communities equipped to preserve knowledge.
NKANDLA Amakhosi and representatives of the Nkandla Indigenous Knowledge Systems steering committee attended a workshop hosted by the Unizul Science Centre and Department of Science and Technology on Tuesday to gain insight into the project which aims to protect, preserve, promote and responsibly exploit South Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems.
The urgency of documenting indigenous knowledge in the country came under the spotlight during the session held in Richards Bay.
The Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centre (IKSDC) at Unizulu Science Centre introduced the National Records System project last year to traditional leaders.
Unlike many cultures whose history has been documented, South Africa’s rich and colourful indigenous knowledge relies on the spoken word, a tradition carried over from generation to generation.
According to IKS Nkandla Deputy Chairperson Zwelabo Zulu, the visit was instrumental in exposing traditional leaders to the Unizul Science Centre and to help promote science and technology at a grassroots level.
‘The Amakhozi will take the information back to the children and help cultivate a love for science and technology and promote these subjects in rural communities as well as the use of the science centre as a resource for local pupils.
‘These custodians of information play a role in rural development and the project is gaining momentum.
Three posts have been created to run the IKS operations at Nkandla and members have undergone training at the science centre.
‘We are looking at preserving heritage and information and finding avenues on how to use indigenous knowledge to deal with social ills as well as the use of traditional foods to deal with diseases,’ said Zulu.
